Page 59 of One Night with Mr. Darcy
“Anyway, Fitz put a stop to it. He said that One was after my money, but it wasn’t that.”
“No, I suppose it wasn’t,” said Elizabeth, thinking of what Mr. Darcy had told her, that the vicar there was doing things to other young women.
“Well, then One said we could not be married, not until he had something to give me, so he took the living as the rector near Pemberley,” said Georgiana. “But then… well… then…”
“There are other women,” said Elizabeth.
“He needs them,” said Georgiana. “You see, I cannot bear to be touched. I’ve always been that way, since I was a very young girl. So, I couldn’t ask a man to be with me if I would not allow him to—”
“He never touches you?” Elizabeth’s voice was cold.
Georgiana flinched in such away that Elizabeth knew the truth.
Elizabeth wanted to give the girl a hug, but she stopped herself, knowing Georgiana didn’t like touch and would not welcome it. “Oh, my poor girl. Where is your cousin?”
“I’m not poor, not to be pitied,” said Georgiana. “Am I?” She gestured with both hands and the blankets fell off. “Because sometimes, Mrs. Collins, I wonder.”
“What do you wonder?”
“Oh, so many things. Why am I never done reducing? Why must I keep getting smaller and smaller for him? Why must there be so many other women? Why does he never even speak of marrying me anymore? Why…? Why does…” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Why does he get so angry? Why does he hurt me?”
“Miss Darcy,” said Elizabeth furiously, “this man is a villain—”
“I wonder that,” said Georgiana. “I do, but then I am near him and he has an answer for everything, and he makes me feel so wretched for having questioned him, and he looks at me, and his eyes, they are so…”
“Blue,” whispered Elizabeth. “Yes, there’s something horrid about that man, to be sure. Something powerfully horrid.”
“Horrid? Are you sure there is? Are you sure it is not something holy, something from God?”
“Positive,” said Elizabeth. “You must stay away from him, that is all. If you have wonderings when you are away from him, you muststayaway. Why did you bring him here?”
“I…” Georgiana’s eyes welled up with tears. “I had to. I knew he would want me to. And all I do is what he wants.”
Elizabeth stopped at the door to Colonel Fitzwilliam’s bedchamber. It was open and she could see inside, and the room was empty.
“You’re still looking for Cousin Richard,” said Georgiana.
“Well, we need some assistance,” said Elizabeth. “And your brother is gone, so I thought we must go to the colonel.”
“I think Richard is out walking in the gardens.”
Elizabeth let out a long, slow breath. “All right, I shall send someone after him. You…” She pointed. “There, you must go into that sitting room right there and stay there. Do not leave. Do I have your word?”
“Of course,” said Georgiana.
Elizabeth left Georgiana with a book and her blankets, and then Elizabeth went down to ask one of the footmen to go after the colonel and bring him back. “Tell him a Mr. Wickham has arrived,” she said. “I’m sure he’ll come directly.”
Then she went back to the sitting room downstairs, only to find that Charlotte was in there.
Charlotte beamed at her. “Oh, Elizabeth, have you spoken to Mr. Wickham? He’s so full of light and wisdom. Five minutes with him and he has changed my life, would you believe it?”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened in horror.
Mr. Wickham was lounging on a couch, arm over the back, one ankle resting on his knee, quite casual. He smiled at Elizabeth. “I wonder about Miss Darcy.”
“I’m sure you do,” said Elizabeth darkly.
His smile deepened. “He’s told you things, then.”
